gold, diamonds, glazed portrait miniature of King Georg V in uniform with medals, watercolour on ivory, signed: "Schwager" = Richard Schwager, gold frame with the applied mottos of the 3 Hanoverian House Orders set with brilliants: "Numquam retrorsum (Order of St. George), Nec aspera terrent (Royal Guelphic Order) and Suscipere et finire (Order of Ernst Augustus), eyelet with hanger set with brilliants, piece of cloth or ribbon behind glass on the reverse, 7.5 x 5 cm, overall weight 51.5 g, master’s mark AK, Vienna chamois head hallmark 1867-1872, (Lu)

A splendid portrait decoration of King George V of Hanover. This family order was only awarded personally by the ruler within the royal family. Similar portrait decorations were regarded as special gifts of honour within the great ruling houses from the 18th century onwards. They are known to have been in use, among others, in the Houses of Habsburg, Romanov and Hohenzollern. They are still used by the English Royal Family today. The present portrait decoration was made in exile in Vienna between 1867 and 1872. The well-known Austrian miniaturist and court painter Richard Schwager (Duppau/Bohemia 1822 - 1880 Rodaun/Vienna) was commissioned with the execution of the portrait. He received numerous commissions from various European ruling houses, and was known as one of the best portrait painters of his time. After losing the war against Prussia in 1866, King George V of Hanover (1819 - 1878) was forced to flee to Vienna, where his family would live in exile. The king gave the present portrait decoration to his daughter Princess Marie (1849 - 1904) on the occasion of her 19th birthday in 1868. An important object from the history of the Hanoverian royal family. The glazed ribbon piece on the back is from the king’s possession and is probably connected with the family history of the House of Welf.

Provenance:
House of Hanover